Rigid wrapper for holding packets of cigarettes

ABSTRACT

Packets of cigarettes ( 2 ) sold in multiples are wrapped in a rigid carton ( 1 ) with a predominating longitudinal axis (L) that extends parallel to the longitudinal axes ( 7 ) of the single packets ( 2 ) and presents a prismatic shape of polygonal section.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a rigid wrapper designed to holdpackets of cigarettes.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] The term wrapper is used generically to indicate rigid containersknown as “cartons” designed to contain packets of cigarettes which,typically, will present a substantially rectangular parallelepipedgeometry.

[0003] A first type of wrapper appears substantially as flattenedparallelepiped with sharp corner edges, referable to a predominatinglongitudinal axis, internally of which the packets are disposed onealongside and in contact with the next in such a way as to create one ormore rows extending along the longitudinal axis.

[0004] A second type of wrapper presents a substantially parallelepipedappearance with sharp corner edges and comprises a cupped container, alid likewise of cupped embodiment, connected to the container by way ofa hinge and capable thus of rotating between open and closed positionsrespectively exposing and concealing an open top end of the container,also a reinforcing frame extending from the open top end, by which thelid is retained when in the closed position. In this type of wrapper thepackets are arranged in two rows, breasted in frontal contact one withanother, and ordered along respective axes disposed transversely to thevertical axis of the wrapper.

[0005] The two types of rigid wrapper outlined above are not suitablefor containing packets of cigarettes exhibiting a shape other than thatof a rectangular parallelepiped.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a rigid wrapperthat can be fashioned from a flat diecut blank as simple and inexpensiveas possible to produce, such as will accommodate packets of cigarettespresenting a shape quite different from that of a rectangularparallelepiped, and require a relatively modest quantity of wrappingmaterial for its manufacture.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The stated object is realized in accordance with the presentinvention through the adoption of a rigid wrapper for holding packets ofcigarettes, referable to a predominating longitudinal axis extendingparallel to the longitudinal axes of the packets of cigarettes,characterized in that it presents a prismatic shape of polygonalsection.

[0008] The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example,with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0009]FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the rigid wrapperaccording to the present invention, viewed in perspective;

[0010]FIG. 2 is the plan view of a diecut blank used to fashion thewrapper of FIG. 1 and the wrappers of FIGS. 13, 14 and 15;

[0011]FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the rigid wrapperaccording to the present invention, viewed in perspective;

[0012]FIG. 4 is the plan view of a diecut blank used to fashion thewrapper of FIG. 3;

[0013]FIGS. 5 and 7 show two alternative embodiments of the wrapper ofFIG. 1, viewed in perspective;

[0014]FIGS. 6 and 8 are plan views of diecut blanks used to fashion thewrappers of FIGS. 5 and 7;

[0015]FIGS. 9 and 11 show two alternative embodiments of the wrapper ofFIG. 3, viewed in perspective;

[0016]FIGS. 10 and 12 are plan views of diecut blanks used to fashionthe wrappers of FIGS. 9 and 11;

[0017]FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 show two further alternative embodiments ofthe wrapper of FIG. 1, viewed in perspective.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 of the accompanyingdrawings, 1 denotes a rigid wrapper, in its entirety, designed to hold aplurality of packets 2 of cigarettes of the type, in particular,disclosed in Application BO99A 000681 for Italian patent filed Dec. 15,1999, to which reference may be made for a full description; theindividual packet 2 comprises an outer wrapper 3 appearing as a prism ofsubstantially triangular section, hence with three substantiallyrectangular adjoining side faces denoted 4, 5 and 6, extending parallelto a predominating longitudinal axis 7 of the prism, and twosubstantially triangular end faces 8 and 9.

[0019] The wrapper 1, which presents a predominating longitudinal axis Ldisposed parallel to the axes 7 of the packets 2 of cigarettes, isprismatic in shape and of polygonal section, presenting sixsubstantially rectangular longitudinal adjoining side faces 10, 11, 12,13, 14 and 15 extending parallel to the predominating longitudinal axisL, and two end faces 16 and 17 constituting the ends of the wrapper 1,which are disposed transversely to the six longitudinal side faces 10,11, 12, 13, 14 and 15.

[0020] Observing the wrappers 1 of FIGS. 1 and 3, both appear with thesix side faces 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 joined along sharp corner edges18, and in particular, the wrapper 1 of FIG. 1 presents two end faces 16and 17 of regular hexagonal shape of which the relative sides 16 a-17 a,16 b-17 b, 16 c-17 c, 16 d-17 d, 16 e-17 e and 16 f-17 f are identical,whereas the wrapper 1 of FIG. 3 presents two end faces 16 and 17 ofirregular hexagonal shape and two side faces, denote 12 and 15respectively, exhibiting a transverse dimension substantially twice thatof the remaining faces 10, 11, 13 and 14; accordingly, the correspondingsides 16 c-16 f and 17 c-17 f of the end faces 16 and 17 are twice thelength of the other sides of the selfsame end faces 16 and 17.

[0021] In particular, observing FIGS. 1, 5 and 7, the packets 2 arearranged inside the wrapper 1 each with two side faces 5 and 6 offeredto those of other adjacent packets, and the third side face 4 offered tothe inside of one of the six faces 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of thewrapper 1, in such a way as to form a group of six packets 2 extendingparallel with an axis 19 which, in the particular case in point,coincides both with the axis of the wrapper 1 and with theaforementioned predominating longitudinal axis L.

[0022] In the various examples of FIGS. 3, 9 and 11, the packets 2 arearranged inside the wrapper 1 in such a manner as to form two groups,each centred on a respective axis 20 and 21 extending parallel with thepredominating longitudinal axis L. In this instance the packets are tenin number and the two groups have two packets 2 in common.

[0023] In the examples of FIGS. 5 and 9, both of the wrappers 1 appearwith the six side faces 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 joined one to the nextby way of bevelled corner edges 22 identifiable as six flat longitudinalinterconnecting fillets 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28: the first such fillet23 interposed between the faces denoted 10 and 11, the second fillet 24between the faces denoted 11 and 12, the third fillet 25 between thefaces denoted 12 and 13, the fourth fillet 26 between the faces denoted13 and 14, the fifth fillet 27 between the faces denoted 14 and 15, andthe sixth fillet 28 between the faces denoted 15 and 10.

[0024] In the examples of FIGS. 7 and 11, both of the wrappers 1 appearwith the six side faces 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 joined likewise one tothe next by way of rounded corner edges 29, identifiable as sixlongitudinal interconnecting bands 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 renderedpliable by a plurality of longitudinal and mutually parallel creaselines 36: the first such band 30 interposed between the faces denoted 10and 11, the second band 31 between the faces denoted 11 and 12, thethird band 32 between the faces denoted 12 and 13, the fourth band 33between the faces denoted 13 and 14, the fifth band 34 between the facesdenoted 14 and 15, and the sixth band 35 between the faces denoted 15and 10.

[0025] In the example of FIGS. 13 and 14 the wrapper 1 is fashioned withan access portion 37 defined by a longitudinal perforation line 38extending along the side face denoted 10, located near the corner edge18 along which this face 10 is joined to the adjacent face 11, and twotransverse perforation lines 39 coinciding with the corner edges of thetwo end faces 16 and 17, which extend from the two longitudinalextremities of the first line 38 to the corner edge 18 along which thetwo side faces denoted 11 and 12 are joined. More precisely, the twotransverse perforation lines 39 occupy a part of the side face 10occupied by the longitudinal perforation line 38, and all of theadjacent side face 11 up to the corner edge 18 along which this face 11is joined to the adjacent face 12 on the opposite side of the selfsameface 11 from the first face 10.

[0026] The access portion 37 functions as a lid 40, consisting in theportion of the one side face 10 delimited by the first perforation line38 together with the adjoining side face 11; at the moment of openingthe wrapper 1, once the user has effected a break along the perforationlines 38 and 39, the lid can be rotated about a hinge line 41 coincidingwith the corner edge 18 between the two side faces denoted 11 and 12between a closed position shown in FIG. 13 and an open position,illustrated in FIG. 14, in which the user is able to take hold of apacket 2 and extract it from the wrapper 1. To facilitate the operationof opening the lid 40, the first perforation line 38 includes asemicircular cut 42 positioned substantially halfway along its lengthand serving to create a tab 43.

[0027] In the example of FIG. 15, the aforementioned access portion 37coincides with one of the two end faces 16 and 17 and, more exactly, theend face 16 connected along one side 16 c to the side face 12 uppermostin the drawing by way of a relative hinge line 41 coinciding with thecorner edge between the two faces 16 and 12.

[0028] As in the examples of FIGS. 13 and 14, the access portion 37 ofthe embodiment in FIG. 15, which is one and the same as thecorresponding end face 16, can be rotated between a closed position (notillustrated) and a position in which the end face of the wrapper 1 isopen, allowing the user to extract one of the packets 2 by inducingmovement along its axis 7 in relation to the other packets of the group.

[0029] In particular, the wrapper 1 of FIG. 15 is furnished with means52 by which to secure the end face 16 in the closed position; such meansmight consist in a strip of restickable type adhesive tape positioned toengage the side face 15 of the wrapper 1 opposite from the side face towhich the end face 16 is hinged, thereby allowing the access portion 37to be opened and fastened again several times over.

[0030] It will be noted that a portion of adhesive tape of the typemight also be used for the wrapper 1 illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, inplace of the tab 43.

[0031] Turning now to FIGS. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12, the wrapper 1 isfashioned from a flat diecut blank 44 of wrapping material, of which thecomponent parts will be indicated where possible using the same numbers,primed, as those used to indicate the corresponding parts of the wrapper1.

[0032] The blank 44 is substantially rectangular, with an axis ofsymmetry 45 disposed transversely to the predominating longitudinal axisL, and presents two transverse crease lines 46 and 47 disposed parallelone to another and both to the axis of symmetry 45, along whichcorresponding bends will be made, also six longitudinal precreased areas48 all extending parallel one to another and to the predominatinglongitudinal axis L, along which further bends are made, defining sixlongitudinal panels 10′, 11′, 12′, 13′, 14′ and 15′ between thetransverse crease lines 46 and 47, coinciding respectively with the sixside faces 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the wrapper 1, and alongitudinal connecting flap 49.

[0033] Throughout the specification, in the interests of clarity, thepanel denoted 12′ will be referred to as a “central panel” and thepanels 11′ and 13′ on either side of the central panel 12′ as “lateralpanels”, whilst the panels 10′ and 14′ connected by way of relativeprecreased areas 48 respectively to the lateral panel 11′ on the rightof the central panel 12′ and to the lateral panel 13′ on the left of thecentral panel 12′ are referred to as “outer panels”, and the remainingpanel 15′, connected to the adjoining outer panel 10′ by way of arelative precreased area 48, is referred to as an end panel. Thelongitudinal flap 49 is connected by way of a relative precreased area48 to the remaining outer panel 14′.

[0034] The central panel 12′ is associated at each end with relative endfolds 16′ and 17′ of essentially polygonal outline, located beyond andjoined to the panel 12′ by way of the two respective transverse creaselines 46 and 47, whilst the remaining panels 11′, 13′, 10′, 14′ and 15′are associated similarly with respective end flaps 50 and 50 a.

[0035] More exactly, observing the blank 44 illustrated in FIG. 2, whichcorresponds to the wrapper 1 of FIG. 1, the aforementioned end folds 16′and 17′ appear as regular hexagons of which the respective sides16′a-17′a, 16′b-17′b, 16′c-17′c, 16′d-17′d, 16′e-17′e and 16′f-17′f areall identical in length one to another, and the six panels 10′, 11′ . .. 15′ all exhibit the same transverse dimension, whereas observing theblank 44 illustrated in FIG. 4, which corresponds to the wrapper 1 ofFIG. 3, the end folds 16′ and 17′ appear as irregular hexagons of whichthe respective sides 16′c-17′c along which the end folds 16′ and 17′ arejoined to the central panel 12′, and the sides 16′f-17′f lying oppositefrom and parallel to the joined sides 16′c-17′c, are double the lengthof the remaining sides 16′a-17′a, 16′b-17′b, 16′d-17′d and 16′e-17′e,and the transverse dimension of the corresponding central panel 12′ andend panel 15′ is double that of the remaining panels 10′, 11′, 13′ and14′.

[0036] In particular, both of the blanks 44 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4appear with precreased areas 48 consisting in respective crease lines 51positioned to coincide with the sharp corner edges 18 of the erectedwrapper 1. Accordingly, the vertexes of the two end folds 16′ and 17′appear as well defined obtuse angles, the end flaps 50 associated withthe lateral panels 11′ and 13′ and the outer panels 10′ and 14′ are ofsubstantially triangular shape, and the end flaps 50 a associated withthe end panel 15′ present a substantially rectangular outline. In thefinished wrapper 1, after the six panels 10′ . . . 15′ and thelongitudinal connecting flap 49 have been bent along the respectivecrease lines 51 through an angle compassed by two adjoining sides of therespective end folds 16′ and 17′, the triangular end flaps 50 bent atright angles to the respective panels 10′, 11′, 13′, and 14′, theremaining end flaps 50 a bent at right angles to the end panel 15′ andfinally the end folds 16′ and 17′ bent at right angles to the centralpanel 12′, the end flaps 50 will be affixed to the inside surfaces ofthe end folds 16′ and 17′, creating the end faces 16 and 17 of thewrapper 1, whilst the longitudinal flap 49 will be affixed to a portionof the inside surface presented by the end panel 15′.

[0037] The blanks 44 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 also present a firstlongitudinal perforation line 38′ lying parallel to the predominatinglongitudinal axis L and occupying the outer panel denoted 10′, and twotransverse perforation lines 39′ located to coincide with the transversecrease lines 46 and 47, which extend from the longitudinal extremitiesof the first perforation line 38′ along the full width of the adjoininglateral panel 11 up to the crease line 51 along which this same panel11′ is joined to the central panel 12′, thus creating the access portion37′ which establishes a lid 40 as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, thatis, hinged on a line 41 coinciding with the corner edge 18 along whichthe two relative side faces 11 and 12 are joined.

[0038] In particular, the first perforation line 38′ presents asemicircular cut 42′ located at a point half way along its length, whichserves to create the aforementioned tab 43 on the lid 40.

[0039] When manufacturing a wrapper 1 as in the example of FIG. 15,moreover, the end fold 16′ can be furnished with securing means 52located along the side 16′f opposite the hinge and serving to retain theend face 16 in the closed position, which might consist in a length ofrestickable type adhesive tape such as will cling detachable to the face15 of the wrapper 1 opposite from that to which the end face 16 ishinged; with this arrangement, the access portion 37 afforded by the endfold 16′ can be opened and fastened again several times.

[0040] In this embodiment, the end flaps 50 and 50 a need not be affixedto the inside surface of the end fold 16′.

[0041] The blanks 44 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 10 are used to fashionthe wrappers 1 of FIGS. 5 and 9 respectively, intended in particular toaccommodate packets 2 of which the longitudinal corner edges arebevelled (not illustrated) or rounded.

[0042] The blank 44 of FIGS. 6 and 10 is similar to the blank 44illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, while differing most significantly in thatthe precreased bend areas 48 each comprise two mutually parallel creaselines 54 separated one from another by a first predetermined distance,thereby generating six longitudinal fillets 23′, 24′, 25′, 26′, 27′ and28′ by way of which the six panels 10′ . . . 15′ are joined one toanother, and the longitudinal flap 49 to the adjacent outer panel 14′.More exactly, a first longitudinal fillet 23′ is interposed between thepanels denoted 10′ and 11′, a second fillet 24′ between the panelsdenoted 11′ and 12′, a third fillet 25′ between the panels denoted 12′and 13′, a fourth fillet 26′ between the panels denoted 13′ and 14′, afifth fillet 27′ between the latter panel 14′ and the longitudinal flap49, and a sixth fillet 28′ between the panels denoted 15′ and 10′. Thesix fillets 23′ . . . 28′, which present a slender transverse dimension,are identical one to another and arranged in such a manner as toconstitute the aforementioned bevelled corner edges 22 of the erectedwrapper 1, appearing as six longitudinal flat fillets 23, 24, 25, 26, 27and 28 by which the six side faces 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are joinedone to the next.

[0043] Accordingly, each end fold 16′ and 17′ appears with the vertexesclipped by respective rectilinear connecting profiles 55 located onebetween each two adjoining sides, whilst the end flaps 50 and 50 a areconnected to the respective panels along the corresponding transversecrease lines 46 and 47 in such a way that the longitudinal extremitiesof the fillets 23′ . . . 28′ remain free.

[0044] More particularly, the length of the rectilinear connectingprofile 55 between each two adjoining sides of the end folds 16′ and 17′is substantially identical to the first distance between the two creaselines 54 of each precreased area 48, so that when the wrapper 1 iserected, the longitudinal extremities of the. fillets 23′ . . . 28′ willbe offered, though not connected, to the matching rectilinear profiles55 of the end folds 16′ and 17′.

[0045] The blanks 44 illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 12 are used to fashionthe wrappers 1 of FIGS. 7 and 11 respectively, intended in particular toaccommodate packets 2 of which the longitudinal corner edges arebevelled (not illustrated) or rounded.

[0046] The blank 44 of FIGS. 8 and 12 is similar to the blank 44illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, while differing significantly in that eachprecreased bend area 48 comprises a plurality of mutually parallelcrease lines 36′ compassed by a second predetermined distance, therebygenerating six longitudinal bands 30′, 31′, 32′, 33′, 34′ and 35′ by wayof which the six panels 10′ . . . 15′ are joined one to another, and thelongitudinal flap 49 to the adjacent outer panel 14′. More exactly, afirst such longitudinal band 30′ is interposed between the panelsdenoted 10′ and 11′, a second band 31′ between the panels denoted 11′and 12′, a third band 32′ between the panels denoted 12′ and 13′, afourth band 33′ between the panels denoted 13′ and 14′, a fifth band 34′between the latter panel 14′ and the longitudinal flap 49, and a sixthband 35′ between the panels denoted 15′ and 10′. The six longitudinalbands 30′ . . . 35′, which present a slender transverse dimension, areidentical one to another and arranged in such a manner as to constitutethe aforementioned rounded corner edges 29 of the erected wrapper 1,appearing as six longitudinal precreased bands 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35by which the six side faces 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are joined one tothe next.

[0047] Accordingly, each end fold 16′ and 17′ appears with the vertexesrounded by respective contoured connecting profiles 57 located onebetween each two adjoining sides, whilst the end flaps 50 and 50 a areconnected to the respective panels along the corresponding transversecrease lines 46 and 47 in such a way that the longitudinal extremitiesof the bands 30′ . . . 35′ remain free.

[0048] More particularly, the length of the contoured connecting profile57 between each two adjoining sides of the end folds 16′ and 17′ issubstantially identical to the second distance compassing the pluralityof crease lines 36′ in each precreased area 48, so that when the wrapper1 is erected, the longitudinal extremities of the fillets 23′ . . . 28′will be offered, though not connected, to the matching contouredprofiles 57 of the end folds 16′ and 17′.

[0049] It will be noted that the wrappers 1 illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7and in FIGS. 9 and 11 can also be furnished with a respective accessportion 37 (not illustrated) similar to that of the wrapper 1illustrated in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, created in like manner with a firstlongitudinal perforation line 38 extending along one face 10 and locatedrespectively near to the bevelled corner edge 22 or to the roundedcorner edge 29 along which this same face 10 is joined to the adjacentface 11, and two transverse perforation lines 39 coinciding with thecorner edges of the two end faces 16 and 17, which extend from the twolongitudinal extremities of the first line 38 to the bevelled corneredge 22 or the rounded corner edge 29, respectively, along which therelative face 11 is joined to the adjacent side face 12.

[0050] More precisely, the two transverse perforation lines 39 occupy apart of the side face 10 occupied by the longitudinal perforation line38, and all of the adjacent side face 11 up to the bevelled corner edge22 or rounded corner edge 29, respectively, along which this face 11 isjoined to the adjacent face 12 on the side remote from the first face10.

[0051] Again, similarly to the wrappers 1 illustrated in FIGS. 5, 7, 9and 11, the access portion 37 can be afforded by one of the two endfaces 16 and 17, as illustrated in FIG. 15.

[0052] To further advantage, with the introduction of the fillets 23′ .. . 28′ into the blanks 44 of FIGS. 6 and 10, and of the bands 30′ . . .35′ into the blanks 44 of FIGS. 8 and 12, it becomes possible not onlyto fashion a wrapper 1 with bevelled corner edges 22 or rounded corneredges 29 and thus accommodate packets 2 similarly exhibiting bevelled orrounded corner edges, but also to reduce the width of the six panels 10′. . . 15′ in comparison to those of the blanks 44 illustrated in FIGS. 2and 4 and the corresponding wrappers 1 of FIGS. 1 and 3, with the resultthat the blanks 44 of FIGS. 6 and 10 and FIGS. 8 and 12 present asmaller transverse dimension overall.

1) A rigid wrapper for holding packets of cigarettes, referable to apredominating longitudinal axis (L) extending parallel to thelongitudinal axes (7) of the packets of cigarettes (2), characterized inthat it presents a prismatic shape of polygonal section. 2) A wrapper asin claim 1, wherein the section is of hexagonal shape. 3) A wrapper asin claim 1, wherein the section is of regular hexagonal shape. 4) Awrapper as in claims 1 to 3, wherein the packets of cigarettes (2)present a prismatic shape of substantially triangular section. 5) Awrapper as in claim 4, wherein the packets (2) are disposed internallyof the wrapper (1) ordered in contact one with another and in such amanner as to form at least one group centred on an axis (19) coincidingwith the axis of the wrapper (1). 6) A wrapper as in claim 5, whereinthe packets (2) are disposed internally of the wrapper (1) ordered incontact one with another and in such a manner as to form two groups eachcentred on a respective axis (20, 21) extending parallel to the axis ofthe wrapper (1). 7) A wrapper as in claims 1 to 6 comprising an accessportion (37) delimited by a first longitudinal perforation line (38)occupying one side face (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) of the wrapper (1) andby two transverse perforation lines (39), coinciding with the corneredges of two end faces (16, 17), which extend from the two longitudinalextremities of the first line (38) to a corner edge (18, 22, 29) of theside face (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) adjacent and parallel and opposite tothe corner edge (18, 22, 29) along which the side face (10, 11, 12, 13,14, 15) occupied by the first perforation line (38) is joined to theside face (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) lying adjacent and occupied by thetransverse perforation lines (39). 8) A wrapper as in claims 1 to 6,comprising an access portion (37) afforded by one end face (16, 17) ofthe wrapper (1) connected to one side face (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) byway of a hinge line (41) and capable thus of movement between positionsin which the end face (16, 17) is open and closed, also means (52)associated with the access portion (37), by which to secure the end face(16, 17) in the closed position. 9) A wrapper as in claims 1 to 8,comprising at least one bevelled longitudinal corner edge (22). 10) Awrapper as in claims 1 to 8, comprising at least one roundedlongitudinal corner edge (22). 11) A wrapper as in claims 1 to 10,fashioned from a flat diecut blank (44) of wrapping material presentingan axis of symmetry (45) disposed transversely to the predominatinglongitudinal axis (L) and exhibiting two transverse crease lines (46,47), also a plurality of precreased bend areas (48) extending parallelto the longitudinal axis (L) and defining a plurality of longitudinalpanels (10′, 11′, 12′, 13′, 14′, 15′), compassed between the transversecrease lines (46, 47) and coinciding with the side faces (10, 11, 12,13, 14, 15) of the wrapper (1), and at least one longitudinal connectingflap (49), of which at least one longitudinal panel (10′, 11′, 12′, 13′,14′, 15′) is associated at the two longitudinal ends with respective endflaps (50, 50 a) connectable to and combining with respective end folds(16′, 17′) to form the end faces (16, 17) of the wrapper (1). 12) Awrapper as in claim 11, wherein the end folds (16′, 17′) are ofhexagonal shape. 13) A wrapper as in claim 11, wherein the end folds(16′, 17′) are of irregular hexagonal shape. 14) A wrapper as in claims11 to 13, wherein the end flaps (50, 50 a) are of substantiallytriangular shape at least in part and proportioned so as not tointerfere one with another once bent and in contact with the respectiveend fold (16′, 17′). 15) A wrapper as in claim 14, wherein at least twoof the flaps (50, 50 a), associated with the opposite ends of one panel(10′, 11′, 12′, 13′, 14′, 15′), are of substantially rectangular shape.16) A wrapper as in claims 11 to 15, wherein the precreased longitudinalbend areas (48) comprise at least one crease line (51). 17) A wrapper asin claims 11 to 15, wherein: at least one of the precreased longitudinalbend areas (48) comprises two mutually parallel crease lines (54)separated by a first predetermined distance and generating at least onelongitudinal fillet (23′, 24′, 25′, 26′, 27′, 28′) by way of which atleast two adjacent panels (10′, 11′, 12′, 13′, 14′, 15′) are joined oneto another; at least one vertex of each end fold (16′, 17′) presents arectilinear profile (55) connecting two adjoining sides; each of the endflaps (50, 50 a) associated with the opposite ends of the two panels(10′, 11′, 12′, 13′, 14′, 15′) interconnected by the fillet (23′, 24′,25′, 26′, 27′, 28′) is connected along one side to the respective panel(10′, 11′, 12′, 13′, 14′, 15′) by way of the transverse crease lines(46, 47) in such a way that the longitudinal extremities of the fillets(23′, 24′, 25′, 26′, 27′, 28′) remain free; and the length of therectilinear connecting profile (55) between the two adjoining sides ofthe end fold (16′, 17′) is substantially identical to the first distanceseparating the two crease lines (54) of the precreased bend area (48) sothat when the wrapper (1) is erected, the longitudinal extremities ofthe fillets (23′ . . . 28′) will be offered though not connected to thecorresponding rectilinear profile (55) of the end fold (16′, 17′), andthe fillet (23′, 24′, 25′, 26′, 27′, 28′) constitutes at least onebevelled longitudinal corner edge (22) of the wrapper (1). 18) A wrapperas in claims 11 to 15, wherein: at least one of the precreasedlongitudinal bend areas (48) comprises a plurality of mutually parallelcrease lines (36′) compassed by a second predetermined distance andgenerating at least one longitudinal band (30′, 31′, 32′, 33′, 34′, 35′)by way of which at least two adjacent panels (10′, 11′, 12′, 13′, 14′,15′) are joined one to another; at least one vertex of each end fold(16′, 17′) presents a contoured profile (57) connecting two adjoiningsides; each of the end flaps (50, 50 a) associated with the oppositeends of the two panels (10′, 11′, 12′, 13′, 14′, 15′) interconnected bythe band (30′, 31′, 32′, 33′, 34′, 35′) is connected along one side tothe respective panel (10′, 11′, 12′, 13′, 14′, 15′) by way of thetransverse crease lines (46, 47) in such a way that the longitudinalextremities of the fillets (30′, 31′, 32′, 33′, 34′, 35′) remain free;and the length of the rectilinear connecting profile (55) between thetwo adjoining sides of the end fold (16′, 17′) is substantiallyidentical to the second distance compassing the crease lines (36′) ofthe precreased bend area (48) so that when the wrapper (1) is erected,the longitudinal extremities of the fillets (23′ . . . 28′) will beoffered though not connected to the corresponding contoured profile (57)of the end fold (16′, 17′), and the fillet (30′, 31′, 32′, 33′, 34′,35′) constitutes at least one longitudinal rounded corner edge (29) ofthe wrapper (1). 19) A wrapper as in claims 11 to 18, fashioned from aflat diecut blank (44) of material that exhibits a first longitudinalperforation line (38) occupying at least one longitudinal panel (10′,11′, 12′, 13′, 14′, 15′), also two transverse perforation lines (39)coinciding with the transverse crease lines (46, 47), extending from thelongitudinal extremities of the first perforation line (38) and alongthe panel (10′, 11′, 12′, 13′, 14′, 15′) adjacent to that occupied bythe first perforation line (38).